As a beauty editor, Jolene Hart had access to all the best products. From anti-aging ointments to flawless foundation, if it was new and effective, Hart had tried it. Unbeknownst to those who took her beauty advice, however, she was hiding a surprising secret under all those layers of cream and color.

“I’d been living with cystic acne, eczema, sensitive skin and digestive issues for years, but I never let on,” Hart explains on her website. After being called out by a well-known facialist, she made up her mind to find a real beauty solution–something that went beyond acne products, pills and treatments.

“Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty, Inside and Out” is the recently published result of more than three years of Hart’s research and testing. Now a certified beauty and health coach, Hart’s book connects the dots between what we eat, how we look, and perhaps most importantly how we feel. “Eat Pretty” is a message of hope and a handbook for those who’ve been locked in a never-ending battle with food.

“Ladies, food is your most powerful beauty tool, NOT your enemy,” says Hart. “You can deepen your lifelong beauty and find simple ways to pamper yourself by shifting some of your everyday habits, starting with the foods you eat.” Below are some of our favorite highlights from “Eat Pretty.”

Deeper Than Skin Deep

Hart has far more experience in the beauty and cosmetics industries than I, yet I immediately identified with her frustration. We’re sold countless products, designed to individually address this blemish or that chronic problem. I hated wearing the mask of makeup that only corrected issues temporarily, and often contained harmful chemicals that only made things worse in the long run. “When I realized that I had just about every beauty product in existence at my fingertips and yet I wasn’t a step closer to looking and feeling my best, I started searching for an answer beyond the beauty aisle,” writes Hart. “I needed real solutions, and the conventional lineup of treatments, products, and prescriptions had already failed.” She soon discovered that looking and feeling our best means exploring good digestion, healthy hormones, restful sleep, emotional health and, as the foundation of it all, foods that support our beauty and wellness. When we FEEL good because we’re internally healthy, it can’t help but spill over into our outward appearance.

Food is Your Ally (Except When It’s Your Enemy)

When it comes to our looks, weight is almost always at the top of the worry list. For too long we’ve villianized food, starving ourselves because we think we can solve all of our problems by dropping two pants sizes. The problem isn’t eating too much, it’s eating too much of the wrong thing. One of my favorite sections of “Eat Pretty” is the one in which Hart lists 12 foods that, when eaten in excess or too often, sabotage our internal health and outward beauty.

How To Assemble A Pretty Plate

Once you’re ready to view food as an ally for creating total body wellness, it’s time to zero in on the foods that go a long way toward achieving the beautiful skin, hair, nails, and countenance that we all want. In a chapter called “Beauty Nutrition 101″ Hart breaks down assembling a Beauty Toolkit–only instead of creams and foundation, this one contains only food. She breaks down the building blocks of beauty (carbohydrates, fat and protein) before moving on to a comprehensive beauty nutrition glossary. My favorite part is the section where she identifies dozens of “beauty foods” along with the essential nutrients and benefits they provide. In a nutshell: eat whole, colorful foods as close to their natural peak season as possible.

Stocking a Beauty-Enhancing Pantry

After laying all of the scientific and nutritional groundwork, Hart gets to the heart of the matter (couldn’t resist). If you’re ready to focus on attaining outward beauty through inward health, Part Two of “Eat Pretty” will become your Bible. It contains a massive list of foods (and a few recipes!) that should take up permanent residence in your kitchen (many of them replacements for the beauty saboteurs mentioned earlier). I was especially impressed with a section called “Glow Getters” that explains 16 anti-aging herbs and spices. There’s also a section on eating pretty with the seasons, including a list of Spring Beauty Intentions that are perfect for using the warm weather as a catalyst for change.

“‘Eat Pretty’ is the book I needed so desperately when I was trying to find my own path to beauty and wellness!” says Hart. “It gives you the tools to understand what’s going on in your body, how your choices (food, lifestyle and otherwise) affect your appearance, and how you can create your very own lifestyle of beauty.”

Want to learn more? “Eat Pretty” is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and direct from the publisher.

Go ahead, grab another cold one—for your hair that is. Your tired hair is begging for a brewski. No joke. That popular yeasty brew, beer, can add both strength and shine to dull, limp hair. Unfortunately, you don’t actually need to drink the beer to get the benefits. You just need to drench your hair in it.

You know that feeling after you use a new shampoo for the first time? Your hair feels all bouncy and luscious and glossy? Everyone’s saying how great your hair looks that day and asking if you got a haircut? Well, rinsing your hair with beer can give your mane that same glamorous sensation.

Go ahead, grab another cold one—for your hair that is. Your tired hair is begging for a brewski. No joke. That popular yeasty brew, beer, can add both strength and shine to dull, limp hair. Unfortunately, you don’t actually need to drink the beer to get the benefits. You just need to drench your hair in it.

You know that feeling after you use a new shampoo for the first time? Your hair feels all bouncy and luscious and glossy? Everyone’s saying how great your hair looks that day and asking if you got a haircut? Well, rinsing your hair with beer can give your mane that same glamorous sensation.

The malt and hops found in your beer are loaded with protein, which nourishes and strengthens hair. The nutrients found in beer can even help repair dried out damaged hair to its former lusciousness. The protein binds to hair dehydrated from blow drying, straightening and harsh weather, and restores strength and body to it. Plus, the alcohol in the beer contains B vitamins that load up your hair with shine. (They actually tighten the hair’s cuticles, which makes light bounce off of your hair. Hence shiner. But, that’s all scientific and such.)

If you want to get beer-enhanced locks, it’s easy to do it yourself. You can simply pop in the shower with a bottle and saturate your hair with beer as a final rinse. For a less extreme approach, try this beer and apple cider hair rinse. For the best results, and fewer chemicals and unnecessary additives, use an organic beer. Keep in mind that you may want to use a lukewarm brew as opposed to one straight out of the fridge. Chilly!

Beer & Apple Cider Hair Rinse

The beer in this rinse will help remove buildup in your hair from shampoos, conditioners and other hair products, while also boosting volume. A splash of apple cider vinegar cuts the beer smell and will help add shine and smoothness.

Mix all of the ingredients together in a container that’s easy to pour, such as a measuring cup with a spout. Head to the shower with your concoction. After you’ve finished with your usual shampooing and conditioning, pour the beer rinse over your hair. Work it in with your fingers or a comb, and let it sit for a few minutes. (This will give you time to soap off any leftover beer from your shoulders or arms.) Then, rinse thoroughly.

While the beer smell shouldn’t linger, you may not want to use this beauty treatment right before you need to head to work or an event, just in case. Apply this beer rinse once or twice a month, or whenever you feel like your hair could use a beauty boost.

Does the idea of slathering cooking oil all over your head seem counter-intuitive? While it might seem strange, consider that it's done in many countries around the world, and has been for ages. Coconut oil, which is highly nutritious when eaten, too, is one of the best hair treatments around. Still not convinced? Let's take a step back for a moment and look at your brainwashing about hair washing.

Does the idea of slathering cooking oil all over your head seem counter-intuitive? While it might seem strange, consider that it’s done in many countries around the world, and has been for ages. Coconut oil, which is highly nutritious when eaten, too, is one of the best hair treatments around. Still not convinced? Let’s take a step back for a moment and look at your brainwashing about hair washing.

Our current preferences for hair care products favor the fragrant, lathery, fancily packaged. This began in the modern era when eschewing tradition, even when those options were most effective, was preferred in favor of products that relayed our status in a fast-paced glamorous world. We continue to equate quality with excessive price tags when often there’s little (if any) difference between salon hair care items and those on the Target sale shelves. The common denominator in virtually all of them, though, is that they strip—rather than replenish—vital oils from the scalp and hair. This creates a problem that cannot be remedied by more products, no matter how fancy.

Mercola.com reports that in a clinical study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science, compared with other oils such as mineral and sunflower, coconut oil was the only one that decreased protein loss in hair, whether the hair was already damaged or not.

Coconut oil is hydrophobic, which means it repels water. When applied to the hair before washing, the oil can penetrate the hair more deeply as the hair swells with moisture. This is thanks to the presence of a rare fatty acid called lauric acid, which is naturally drawn to the hair proteins. Coconut oil application also helps to prevent frizz and promote shine.

In India, coconut oil is used also to keep hair from turning gray by massaging it into the scalp for 10 to 15 minutes per day. Some people even report turning gray hairs back to their normal color with this technique!

So, want to use coconut oil on your hair and scalp? Give these steps a try:

Use a high quality coconut oil from a glass jar (oils leach plastic and the harmful chemicals such as BPA can enter your body through the scalp). I recommend Dr. Bronner’s Fair Trade Coconut Oil.

Start with a teaspoon size amount of oil. Coconut oil will melt at 76 degrees Fahrenheit. It is easier to use when it’s in its solid white state. You can refrigerate it for a bit to get it to this consistency if needed.

Begin massaging the tips of your hair first, working in towards the scalp.

Once you get to the scalp, massage oil in as you would a shampoo. Work evenly and thoroughly using more oil as needed.

Comb through the hair. Leave on for at least ten minutes—or even over night. Repeat as needed. It can be done daily, so you can’t really overdo it!

Shampoo and condition as normal.

Note: If working to reverse gray hair, combine the treatment with a teaspoon of lemon juice.

The Brazilian Blowout takes chemically process hair to a whole new level. Using a multi-hour process that involves keratin and formaldehyde, which is found in embalming fluid, a Brazilian Blowout can straighten frizzy hair for up to three months. The Brazilian Blowout might seem like a godsend for women who had been running to the salon multiple times each week for a blow-out or flat-ironing session, but this new technique is no answer for healthy hair.

The Brazilian Blowout takes chemically process hair to a whole new level. Using a multi-hour process that involves keratin and formaldehyde, which is found in embalming fluid, a Brazilian Blowout can straighten frizzy hair for up to three months. The Brazilian Blowout might seem like a godsend for women who had been running to the salon multiple times each week for a blow-out or flat-ironing session, but this new technique is no answer for healthy hair.

For centuries, women and men have undertaken numerous extreme measures to improve their attractiveness. It’s not all vanity; the more attractive you are, the better chance you have of getting hired, getting married and otherwise getting what you want in life. For women, who historically have had few other means to acquire power, beauty is even more important.

A woman’s hair is her crowning glory. Many breast cancer patients going through chemotherapy say that losing their hair was even more traumatic than losing their breasts. While standards of beauty are shifting and even a shiny bald head can be attractive, many women still try to achieve a “classic” look, which includes straightened hair.

Traditional hair relaxers contain lye and are a temporary fix for frizz and unwieldy curls. Not healthy by any means, relaxers can leave behind a nasty chemical burn – and a bald head – if left on the scalp too long.

Banned in Canada and the European Union, Brazilian Blowouts use a very high concentration of chemicals that are sealed into the hair cuticle with heat. Originating in Brazil, the country that also gave us the unhealthy-yet-hot thong underwear, these blowouts cost anywhere from $200-600, depending on the length of hair. Stylists who apply Brazilian Blowouts must use a gas mask when they do so – but the client getting her hair done, as well as any other customers around, just breath in this noxious combination of chemicals as the solution is applied to the hair.

What’s so bad about spewing formaldehyde into the air of your immediate environment? Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and breathing its vapors causes immediate symptoms including headaches, burning eyes, bloody nose and respiratory distress. Long-term exposure to formaldehyde can damage lung function permanently and increase the risk of cancer.

Obviously, women are choosing the immediate gain of a hot head of hair over any negative repercussions in the future for their health. Salons are choosing the immediate gain of several hundred dollars over the health of their employees or clients.

When your beauty treatment requires a gas mask, perhaps its time to rethink the reasons behind your styling choices. Attempting to conform to another person’s idea of beauty is a bad idea to begin with, a challenge that can only be failed as you compare yourself to others.

As a straight-haired woman, I cannot begin to count the number of times I have been at a vanity mirror curling my hair with a hot iron, standing next to a girlfriend with curly hair who is straightening hers. It seems like no matter what physical attributes we are blessed with, we are always seeking to improve upon them. While improving your lot in life is to be admired, at some point we must draw the line – and that line comes right before the gas mask.

You walk outside one day and just like that, it’s summer. Doesn’t that warm air and sunshine make you feel all glowy inside? Get that same summery radiance on the outside by giving your hair fresh highlights. But, you certainly don’t need toxic salon chemicals to give your tresses a sun-kissed glow. These three homemade highlighting methods will get your mane looking beach-ready (even if you don’t live near one) the natural way.

You walk outside one day and just like that, it’s summer. Doesn’t that warm air and sunshine make you feel all glowy inside? Get that same summery radiance on the outside by giving your hair fresh highlights. But, you certainly don’t need toxic salon chemicals to give your tresses a sun-kissed glow. These three homemade highlighting methods will get your mane looking beach-ready (even if you don’t live near one) the natural way.

Lemon Juice

The old wives tale of using lemon juice to lighten hair has stuck around for a reason—it works. Giving your tresses natural lemony highlights is easy! Simply squeeze the juice of a fresh lemon into a bowl. Then, use a small brush to spread the lemon juice onto the sections of your hair you’d like to highlight.

Now, get out in the sun! Sunshine acts as a natural bleaching agent, and it will help set the lemon juice. Keep in mind that as a natural method, this lemon juice-highlighting trick will give you pale, airy highlights, not drastic chunks of color. Think beachy goddess, not punk rock queen.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea works similarly to the lemon juice method. And, don’t expect extreme highlights with this one either. Chamomile tea will leave your hair looking fresh and slightly lighter than your natural shade. Even brunettes can achieve golden highlights with this one.

To highlight your hair with chamomile tea, brew a pot and let it cool. Then, pour the tea into a spray bottle. Spritz your hair with the brew in the areas you’d like to lighten (or all over your head). Then, sit out in the sun to set the mixture. Chamomile tea works to gradually lighten your hair, so you may need to repeat this process more than once.

Honey

Want honey-colored highlights in your locks? Then use honey, honey! You can apply honey directly to damp hair and let it sit for two hours. Or, if you want a less sticky concoction, mix equal parts honey, lemon and warm water in a spray bottle. Apply the mixture to wet hair, and then sit in the sun and let it work its brightening magic. The honey mixture will bring out your natural highlights and, as a bonus, will leave your hair super shiny and bouncy.

With regular applications (and some experimenting), even dark-colored hair should see results with these formulas.

You’re pretty sure you didn’t get electrocuted, but no one would know that by the state of your hair. Dry winter air can turn your usually sleek tresses into a frizzed out, static-y hairdo that refuses to be tamed.

With bits and pieces sticking out like a mad scientist’s mane, you’ve got some serious static electricity going on. You don’t want to drown your hair in chemical-laden hairspray, but hair that refuses to submit to gravity is gets darn annoying. What’s an eco-beauty to do? Wage war (and win!) on static-y hair with these three natural ways to get rid of the craziness.

You’re pretty sure you didn’t get electrocuted, but no one would know that by the state of your hair. Dry winter air can turn your usually sleek tresses into a frizzed out, static-y hairdo that refuses to be tamed.

With bits and pieces sticking out like a mad scientist’s mane, you’ve got some serious static electricity going on. You don’t want to drown your hair in chemical-laden hairspray, but hair that refuses to submit to gravity gets darn annoying. What’s an eco-beauty to do? Wage war (and win!) on static-y hair with these three natural ways to get rid of the craziness.

1. Remove Product Buildup

Too much product buildup could be contributing to your unruly hair. You can wash away that grimy buildup from excess shampoo, conditioner and styling products with an ingredient that’s probably already in your pantry: Baking soda.

Simply wash your hair with about ½ cup of baking soda and warm water once every week. If your hair feels too dry after using this method, add ½ cup vinegar to the concoction. After a week or two, the vinegar rinse will help conquer your wild static-y locks.

2. Condition Like Crazy

Dry, brittle hair will create a platform for static to take over your tresses. Keeping your hair hydrated is the best way to prevent static from entering your life. Try our DIY Deep Conditioner recipe to bring back the moisture to your hair—the natural way.

3. Lotion It Up

Sometimes you just need to tame those flyaways—right now. You don’t want to enter a business meeting with what looks like bedhead. Instead of dousing your hair in chemical-filled hairspray, grab your favorite organic lotion for this quick fix.

Simply rub a good dollop of the lotion into your hands stopping just before it all sinks in. Then, lightly style your hair back into place with your moisturized hands. The lotion will prevent frizzy static hair for a while, but keep in mind it’s not a permanent solution. After an hour or two the static may return.

Am I hallucinating or does my hair look like straw? That moment of reckoning hits all of us right between the eyes. After subjecting our locks to years of chemical coloring agents, hot styling tools and hair care products with ingredients that are literally unpronounceable, there comes a time when it all catches up to us. Dragging a comb through freshly washed, conditioned and purportedly detangled hair suddenly becomes an exercise in pure frustration, with the casualty of our chemical tendencies being broken bits and pieces of dull organic material that once looked and even felt like genuine hair. (Even birds wouldn't want to insulate their nests with it!)

Am I hallucinating or does my hair look like straw? That moment of reckoning hits all of us right between the eyes. After subjecting our locks to years of chemicalcoloring agents, hot styling tools and hair care products with ingredients that are literally unpronounceable, there comes a time when it all catches up to us. Dragging a comb through freshly washed, conditioned and purportedly detangled hair suddenly becomes an exercise in pure frustration, with the casualty of our chemical tendencies being broken bits and pieces of dull organic material that once looked and even felt like genuine hair. (Even birds wouldn’t want to insulate their nests with it!)

Why must it be this way? Oh…come on, we all know why. Very few of us are satisfied with what Mother Nature gave us. If we’re blessed with glossy raven locks, we want platinum blonde instead. Those fortunate enough to rock a ginger head sometimes crave a deep mocha tone, while ladies sporting natural ringlets may end up cursing the hair gods, opting for a chemically straightened look no matter the cost to scalp or wallet. Desiring an ever-changing look is certainly part of the very spice of life… it’s just a shame that it takes such an obvious toll on the quality of our tresses.

Barring an all-out-Britney shearing — which looked great on Natalie Portman and Demi Moore, but could conceivably backfire for mere mortals without access to extraordinary styling gurus — is it really possible to correct the damage done by one thousand and one primping and preening sessions? According to the experts, nope… not really. Once the cuticle has been compromised, the best hope we’ve all got for a better looking head of hair is to be diligent about getting monthly haircuts, going easy on the styling tools and using nourishing personal care products that are absent of sulfates, parabens, silicone and other dangerous, often petroleum-based, chemicals. For noticeably manageable locks, however, these key plant-based oils will smooth your hair cuticle with nary a chemical in sight:

A boon to satisfying, flavorful and culinarily creative vegan dishes as well as a whole host of natural body care products, the high saturated fat content of coconut oil is perfectly suited to locks that look far more limp than lustrous. In fact, a study found that whether it’s applied on healthy or chemically-compromised hair, coconut oil reduces protein loss since it “is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft.” So, whether you scoop it straight out of the container and allow it to work its magic for a few hours or opt for a longer-term deep conditioning treatment, your hair will sing with hydrating relief.

Morocco is no stranger to the medicinal, nutritional and beauty-bestowing benefits of Argan tree kernels, which are roasted and then pressed to yield an antioxidant-rich oil that is apparently as delicious as it is restorative to the skin and hair. A word to the wise – just a little of this rapidly absorbing oil goes a long way, with its best application as a post-shower hair treatment when sparingly applied to towel-dried locks.

Your favorite heart-healthy oil is good for so much more than grilling organic chicken breasts and providing the foundation for a zippy salad dressing. Did you know that it can also clean your facial skin (without triggering blemishes!), work extremely well as a natural shaving lotion and help to exfoliate dead skin cells when mixed with coarse salt? But you want to use it to restore the elasticity to your chemically ravaged tresses, right? Then this is what you need to do. Warm 1–2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil before applying it to the entire length of your hair (don’t forget your scalp!) and then create a mini greenhouse effect by tucking your locks into a plastic bag. Not terribly attractive, but after allowing your hair to chill out for at least 1 hour (preferably longer for the best effect) and washing it out thoroughly with warm water and a natural shampoo, you’ll wonder why you never marinated your mane sooner!

Splitting headache got you down? What about that post-dinner gastrointestinal explosion going on in your stomach? We've all been there and it's definitely not fun. But, thanks to the modern miracles of laboratory science, none of us have to endure the discomfort of the most common ailments for very long since all the over-the-counter chemical compounds we could possibly hope and dream for are available at our fingertips the moment we reach into our generously-stocked medicine cabinets.

Splitting headache got you down? What about that post-dinner gastrointestinal explosion going on in your stomach? We’ve all been there and it’s definitely not fun. But, thanks to the modern miracles of laboratory science, none of us have to endure the discomfort of the most common ailments for very long since all the over-the-counter chemical compounds we could possibly hope and dream for are available at our fingertips the moment we reach into our generously-stocked medicine cabinets.

Here’s the problem. We’re talking about synthetic laboratory-created remedies. A bunch of obscure chemicals that when pressed into magical pills are capable of targeting life’s little health-related inconveniences, but who knows what else they may be doing to our internal organs in the process, especially when we rely on them all too consistently. Wouldn’t you feel just a wee bit better addressing the aches and pains that may randomly pop up throughout the weeks and months in a more natural manner?

Chicken Pox

One of the basic rites of childhood, there’s no reason why your kiddies should be forced to suffer from the persistent, skin crawling itch that accompanies this viral infection. In order to accelerate their healing process, immune boosting herbs such as Echinacea, goldenseal, astragalus and Chinese mushrooms will work wonders on the inside, but do make a point of pairing this home-spun treatment with external remedies such as encouraging them to soak in a warm bath augmented with either colloidal oatmeal, baking soda or apple cider vinegar.

Plantar Warts

The alpha hydroxy acid found in banana peels makes them an incredibly effective natural treatment for unsightly plantar warts. Simply cut a small section of the yellow skin with a pair of scissors, secure it directly to the affected area with waterproof first aid tape and after repeating this process every morning for roughly three days, the growth will disappear!

Upset Stomach

While chewing on fresh ginger root, sipping it in tea form or indulging in the candied version is often the number one natural go-to-remedy for stomach ailments, peppermint supplements and/or tea can also offer great relief, as can eating yogurt or drinking four ounces of water with ½ teaspoon of baking soda. One of the most unusual remedies that people swear by, however, is popcorn soaked in boiling water for a minimum of 15 minutes (when consumed 4 times per hour) until symptoms go away. While it may be a little kooky, it’s certainly worth a try.

Headaches

Before you reach for the Tylenol, you might want to create a spicy sachet instead filled with 4 tablespoons (each) of mint, rose petals, rosemary, cloves, lavender and marjoram. Any time you feel that old familiar throb, just inhale the fragrant scent and watch your worries float away. If sipping is more your style, a therapeutic herbaceous tea made with 1 teaspoon of crushed sage and 1 teaspoon of crushed rosemary (both of which contain outstanding anti-inflammatory agents) will offer noticeable relief when consumed at least three times daily.

Laryngitis

Those who temporarily lose their voice – whether due to a seasonal illness or a competition with the booming sound system at a night club – might instantly gargle with a fresh lemon and honey combo or sip on diluted apple cider vinegar, both of which provide effective relief. If left-of-center treatments happen to be up your alley, then perhaps you’ll appreciate the antioxidant-packed wonders of organic chestnut shells – just chew on them to draw out their nutrients (spitting them out after at least 5 minutes, please!) and you’ll be on your way to vocal restoration. Similarly, gargling with the liquid remaining in a pot of boiled cabbage will also make your cords right as rain again. No, really.

Lice

Prevent head lice from making themselves at home in your children’s locks by arranging long hair in a high bun or French braids and finishing the style with a generous application of hairspray (it’s definitely a good idea to spray it outside rather than in your home). The propellant chemicals – which are admittedly the last thing any of us should inhale – actually stop the creepy little critters dead in their tracks.

Bug Bites

When insects chomp down on exposed skin, alleviate any resulting swelling and itchiness by mixing water into a small amount of baking soda and applying that paste directly to the affected area so it can help to draw out the toxins.

Pink Eye

Anyone who’s attended public school knows that conjunctivitis has a way of spreading like wildfire. If your child is infected, soothing their inflamed tissues can be as easy as rinsing eyes with Eyebright tea (Euphrasia officinalis) or the herbal tincture diluted in water, placing briefly steeped chamomile tea bags on closed lids for 15 minute intervals every few hours throughout the day, or just applying steamed anti-inflammatory-laden cabbage leaves to each lid. Of course, you could always just reserve some of your morning espresso for their peepers – the brew’s natural acidity weakens and ultimately kills pink eye bacteria… just make sure the liquid has reached room temperature first!

It’s hard to fathom just how beneficial and versatile beets really are given their admittedly crummy taste when commercially manufactured and plunked into supermarket-friendly steel cans. If your well-intentioned parents paired Sunday night meatloaves and random roasted chickens with that particular tastebud-offending incarnation, insisting that you had to be a member of the clean plate club or you’d end up sleeping at the dinner table, your current hatred for the seemingly limp root is admittedly justified.

It’s hard to fathom just how beneficial and versatile beets really are given their admittedly crummy taste when commercially manufactured and plunked into supermarket-friendly steel cans. If your well-intentioned parents paired Sunday night meatloaves and random roasted chickens with that particular tastebud-offending incarnation, insisting that you had to be a member of the clean plate club or you’d end up sleeping at the dinner table, your current hatred for the seemingly limp root is admittedly justified.

But prepare them fresh and it’s a whole different story altogether. The folate and antioxidant rich gems – which are as delicious raw as they are steamed and roasted — are pleasantly toothsome and sweet with a distinctively earthy undertone. Eating them genuinely does the body good, not only in terms of offering cancer prevention benefits but also reducing inflammation, aiding the digestive tract, boosting the memory and facilitating overall wellness. They’re also quite easy to grow and among the more affordable veggies in the produce department!

Still skeptical? Okay, fine. So maybe it’s going to take a lot more to convince you to incorporate them into your diet, but at the very least, you might want to take baby steps by making them a part of your planet-friendly lifestyle. Beets can be transformed into all sorts of intriguing handy household aids, particularly if you lean toward the crafty side of things or you really appreciate whipping up your own natural beauty aids.

In a blender, combine 1/2 cup of coarsely chopped cabbage with one peeled beet and then add ¼ cup of water until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Pour into an ice cube tray until frozen solid. Whenever you want to naturally clean and tone your skin, just rub one solid cube over your face and voila – fresh faced beauty will be yours!

**Just a little friendly advice: Whether you’re planning on consuming beets or using them for any of the other applications mentioned above, please wear heavy rubber gloves while prepping them because the little buggers will stain-stain-stain anything in site. If you inadvertently get shot in the face or for some crazy reason one of your gloved fingers blows a gasket and makes direct contact with a freshly peeled beet, just rub the stained region vigorously with a lemon juice and salt ‘paste’ followed by soap and water.**

Bamboo is an incredible green plant - undoubtedly so. It's as strong as steel, more sturdy than concrete and grows to timber size in a year - making it a renewable junkie's fantasy. But I bet you never looked at these stronger-than-thou stalks and thought they might be beneficial to your beauty regimen. Think again. Add to bamboo's roster: versatility.

Bamboo is an incredible green plant – undoubtedly so. It’s as strong as steel, more sturdy than concrete and grows to timber size in a year – making it a renewable junkie’s fantasy. But I bet you never looked at these stronger-than-thou stalks and thought they might be beneficial to your beauty regimen. Think again. Add to bamboo’s roster: versatility.

Bamboo is making its way into cosmetics and beauty products worldwide, and while we’ll certainly be scanning the labels for harmful unbeautiful ingredients, bamboo’s eco-gorgeous properties are on our radar. Here’s how its sprouting up:

Bamboo Milk is extracted from bamboo leaves and stems with claims to be both a stimulant and an aphrodisiac. Look for a body wash near you that capitalizes on this creamily moisturizing, uplifting (euphemism?) ingredient.

Bamboo Powder has been long revered in Asia and is making its way around the world as an invaluable component in soaps, and even in spa treatments. It has antiseptic and astringent qualities, which prove awesome for oily and blemish-prone skin, and is rich in minerals. The finely milled powder can be mixed into masks and scrubs to work as a gentle exfoliant.

Bamboo Charcoal is another way that bamboo brings both incredible detoxifying abilities and gentle sloughing to soaps and facial cleansers. For anyone looking to remove impurities without irritating your skin, look for bamboo charcoal in your natural beauty products.

Bamboo Extract takes on your hair, including those lashes of yours. The extract is a rich source of natural silica which promotes hair growth and helps make existing hair stronger. Look for bamboo shampoos and conditioners that promote fullness and body, and mascara that – of course – plumps up those lashes.

As Autumn marks the transition from warmer weather into the cooler months ahead, I don’t know about you, but those katabatic winds that start blowing through and thermostats getting perpetually turned rightward, what happens is: my hair gets lifeless, limp, dull and completely unmanageable.

Well, this year, let’s take drab into our own hands. Before the wiles of fall and winter even have a chance to take their toll on our lovely locks, here are a few ways for under five dollars to keep the fall forces at bay.

An organic, free-range egg from your local farmers market is rich with proteins and nutrients to help straighten your hair follicles, adding volume, shine and texture. On a weekly basis, all you have to do is beat up one or two eggs (depending on the length of your strands) and massage it in. Let the egg impart its goodness for fifteen minutes before rinsing out in cool or lukewarm water (hot water can partially cook the egg, which we want to avoid). And then shampoo as usual.

A weekly rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar can do wonders, removing all build up from your hair and imparting a luster that doesn’t lack. Use ½ cup vinegar diluted with ½ half cup water, pouring the mixture onto your head after you’ve shampooed (and rinsed). Let it sit about a minute before rinsing. If you’re a bit wary of an odor remaining, you can shampoo again, but make sure you’re using a natural shampoo without drying chemicals.

For an amazing all-natural conditioner, massage a mashed avocadointo wet hair, let it seep in for 15 minutes, and then rinse it out. Avocados contain more than 25 essential nutrients and vitamins which help hair regain its nutrition, elasticity, shine and body.

You will be shocked at how shiny and silky a little coconut oil will make your hair. I like to apply it to the ends of my hair when it’s wet (but not dripping). Use your fingertips (added bonus: it’s also a great moisturizer for the skin), starting at the tips and working the coconut oil up about half way the hair’s length. Be sure not to overdo it.

Last note: Sometimes the external appearance of our hair is actually a reflection of an internal imbalance. It’s worth considering whether you have enough healthy fats – like avocado and coconut – in your diet.

You may think I wantonly go through a lot of organic shampoo and water, but I have a hair-healthy, water-saving routine that gets the job done quickly and effectively: I simply use less shampoo, and I focus on cleansing my scalp.

It’s an approach endorsed by Paradi Mirmirani, MD, a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente in Vallejo, Calif.

“When we wash our hair, we tend to use too much shampoo by washing the entire length of the hair, rather than concentrating on cleaning just the scalp,” she confirms.

“In addition, how often you wash your hair should be based on how oily your scalp is. If it’s oily, you might need to wash it more frequently than someone with a dry scalp. However, most of us are probably overwashing our hair and can save some money by using less shampoo.”

African-Americans should wash their hair no more than once a week, Dr. Mirmirani says, as their hair and scalp tend to be much dryer. Overshampooing can further dry out the hair and scalp.

“I recommend that you choose a shampoo formulated specifically for your type of hair,” she says. (Needless to say, we recommend a natural or organic shampoo that’s free of harsh chemicals and dyes.)

“If you color your hair, then select a shampoo designed for color-treated hair,” Dr. Mirmirani adds. “It is gentler than regular shampoo and can help extend your hair color. But if dandruff is a problem, then try a shampoo formulated to fight dandruff.

“The key is finding the product that works best for you,” she concludes, “and avoid the temptation to spend more than you have to.”

You may think I wantonly go through a lot of organic shampoo and water, but I have a hair-healthy, water-saving routine that gets the job done quickly and effectively: I simply use less shampoo, and I focus on cleansing my scalp.

It’s an approach endorsed by Paradi Mirmirani, MD, a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente in Vallejo, Calif.

“When we wash our hair, we tend to use too much shampoo by washing the entire length of the hair, rather than concentrating on cleaning just the scalp,” she confirms.

“In addition, how often you wash your hair should be based on how oily your scalp is. If it’s oily, you might need to wash it more frequently than someone with a dry scalp. However, most of us are probably overwashing our hair and can save some money by using less shampoo.”

African-Americans should wash their hair no more than once a week, Dr. Mirmirani says, as their hair and scalp tend to be much dryer. Overshampooing can further dry out the hair and scalp.

“I recommend that you choose a shampoo formulated specifically for your type of hair,” she says. (Needless to say, we recommend a natural or organic shampoo that’s free of harsh chemicals and dyes.)

“If you color your hair, then select a shampoo designed for color-treated hair,” Dr. Mirmirani adds. “It is gentler than regular shampoo and can help extend your hair color. But if dandruff is a problem, then try a shampoo formulated to fight dandruff.

“The key is finding the product that works best for you,” she concludes, “and avoid the temptation to spend more than you have to.”

It’s called “trichotillomania”: an “irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other area of your body,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

Sufferers may yank out every single eyelash or eyebrow, and chronic hair-pulling can lead to unsightly bald patches on the scalp.

I’ve known several people who have wrestled with trichotillomania, and they cannot explain their compulsion, which has been described in the medical literature for close to 200 years. Children as young as 1 year may become hair-pullers, and the psychological condition has stumped healthcare professionals for many years.

While there’s no established treatment for the disorder, which affects up to 4% of the population, researchers have found the amino acid N-acetylcysteine appears to reduce symptoms, according to a study published in this month’s edition of Archives of General Psychiatry.

N-acetylcysteine has previously shown promise in treating repetitive or compulsive disorders, according to lead researcher Jon E. Grant, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine in Minneapolis. After a 12-week course, patients showed “significantly greater reductions in hair-pulling symptoms,” he and his colleagues report.

N-acetylcysteine “is available in health-food stores, is cheaper than most insurance copayments and seems to be well-tolerated,” the authors write. “N-acetylcysteine could be an effective treatment option for people with trichotillomania.”

Check with your healthcare provider before starting a course of N-acetylcysteine, as the researchers believe future studies should evaluate its long-term effects.

It’s called “trichotillomania”: an “irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other area of your body,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

Sufferers may yank out every single eyelash or eyebrow, and chronic hair-pulling can lead to unsightly bald patches on the scalp.

I’ve known several people who have wrestled with trichotillomania, and they cannot explain their compulsion, which has been described in the medical literature for close to 200 years. Children as young as 1 year may become hair-pullers, and the psychological condition has stumped healthcare professionals for many years.

While there’s no established treatment for the disorder, which affects up to 4% of the population, researchers have found the amino acid N-acetylcysteine appears to reduce symptoms, according to a study published in this month’s edition of Archives of General Psychiatry.

N-acetylcysteine has previously shown promise in treating repetitive or compulsive disorders, according to lead researcher Jon E. Grant, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine in Minneapolis. After a 12-week course, patients showed “significantly greater reductions in hair-pulling symptoms,” he and his colleagues report.

N-acetylcysteine “is available in health-food stores, is cheaper than most insurance copayments and seems to be well-tolerated,” the authors write. “N-acetylcysteine could be an effective treatment option for people with trichotillomania.”

Check with your healthcare provider before starting a course of N-acetylcysteine, as the researchers believe future studies should evaluate its long-term effects.